They were informed that the United States Army was the "national police force," and that it was the duty of the force to protect the flag and property of the United States; that they would be on duty at different places, would be given employment for three years, and that there were various other benefits accruing from the service.

The bills divided the South except for Tennessee, which was readmitted into the Union only because it had agreed to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment into five military districts and gave supreme authority over those districts to officers of the United States Army.